Jockey Mitchell Recovering from Heart Attack

Veteran Jockey Gallyn Mitchell is recuperating from a heart attack suffered Monday, April 22, at his home near Enumclaw, Wash.

Emerald Downs' all-time leader in wins, stakes wins, and earnings, Mitchell remains at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, where he had three stents implanted during an emergency procedure April 22.

On April 23, wife and jockey's agent Denise Mitchell said her husband remained in the intensive care unit, but added his spirits were good and that he was seeing visitors.

"So far, so good," Denise Mitchell said. "They could move him out of ICU soon."

Mitchell, 50, has ridden 1,347 winners at Emerald Downs and 2,628 overall. He has two wins from 18 starts this season. In his career, he has registered four graded stakes wins and 127 stakes wins. Tracks where he has registered stakes wins include Emerald Downs, Turf Paradise, Hastings Racecourse, Louisiana Downs, and Pleasanton.

A two-time winner of the Longacres Mile (gr. III) and 2013 finalist for the Washington Racing Hall of Fame, Mitchell is the only jockey to ride all 18 seasons at Emerald Downs.

Denise Mitchell said doctors would monitor Gallyn and then determine if more surgery was necessary.